Quebec City Celebrates 400 Years
1608-2008
By Valerie Summers
 When Samuel de Champlain chose to settle at Kebec (“where
the river narrows” in Algonquin), he could have no idea of what the future held
for what has become the beautiful, historic Quebec City, Canada. In 1985, it
became the first North American urban center to be listed as UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2008, Quebec City has
preserved it glorious past while fashioning its unique brand of modernity.
Historic Old Quebec is a
lively city center of winding streets and quaint town squares with some very old
but well maintained buildings. Overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River, it
exudes a charm which I find rare on the North American continent.
 Having visited this
delightful and picturesque city on several occasions in the past and during
every season, I was pleased to discover a new activity which I could participate
in with friends and at the same time learn some history. A short walk from my
conveniently situated hotel, Loews Le Concorde, overlooking massive city park
known as the Plains of Abraham, took us to the starting point for our adventure.
Known as Champlain’s
Prophecy, this escapade launched us on a walking trip around the old city where
we would discover some of the city’s rich history. This treasure hunt, patterned
after the Da Vinci Code, has created a mystery, combining fiction with heritage.
Our group was broken into teams given some preparatory information and then set
off, armed with an Adventure Booklet, to see who would accomplish the mission
first. The booklet directed us to 38 stops and included puzzle-like references
to what we were looking for before continuing on. As often as I had passed by
the stops we made, I saw things I had never noticed before and in doing so,
discovered much of the history of Quebec City.
 This history will be celebrated in a big way in 2008 when
Quebec City commemorates its founding in 1608 with special events continuing
through the year including major international events with longstanding links to
its history and culture. The kickoff for the 400 year gala begins on New Year’s
Eve with a giant musical, theatrical and acrobatic production offering a special
way to bring in the New Year.
During the summer, the birthday party of a 400-year
lifetime will continue with four days of splendid celebrations leading up to
July 3, the anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. The site of the closing
events celebrating Quebec’s cultural diversity takes place at Bassin Louise in
the Old Port of Quebec. This official site of the festivities offers a
central meeting place where visitors can explore and join in with the
activities. It’s a once in a lifetime event that I will be happily celebrating
with my French-speaking Canadian neighbors to the north.
For information:
Air Canada
888/247-2262
www.aircanada.com
Champlain’s Prophecy (advanced reservations are advised)
525, rue du Bon-Pasteur
Quebec, OC G1R 5R6
Canada
418/687-6096
www.avacture.com
Hotel Loews Le Concorde: On Grande Allee, this four-star
four-diamond hotel offers more than 400 of the most spacious rooms in Quebec
City and features a revolving restaurant on its top floor.
1225 cours du General-De Montcalm
Quebec City G1R 4W6
800/463-5256
www.loewsleconcorde.com
Quebec City Office of Tourism
399 rue Saint-Joseph Est
Quebec (Quebec) Canada G1k 8E2
418/641-6654
www.quebecregion.com
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